Studies on the behavior of some phosphorus-contained calix[n]arenes in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography is applied to studies of the Chromatographic characteristics of calix[4]-, calix[6]-, and calix[8]arenes functionalized at the lower rim of the macrocycle by phosphoryl groups. Acetonitrile-water is used as the mobile phase, LiChrosorb 18 is the stationary phase, and ultraviolet detection is at 254 nm. The influence of the size and conformation of the calix[n]arene macrocyclic skeleton and the nature of substituents at the lower and upper rims on Chromatographic characteristics of calix[n]arenes are determined. Retention times and capacity factors of calix[n]arenes are determined. It is found that the retention times of calix[n]arenes are determined mainly by the presence of hydrophobic tert-butyl groups at the upper rim of the macrocyclic ring.